On 25 April 2017, Mr. Liu Zhaoyang, Vice Mayor of Jingdezhen, met with the China-ASEAN Media Delegation and gave an interview to the journalists. Ms. Zhao Jun, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China Report Magazine, Mr. Vithit Powattanasuk, Director of Information and Public Relations Division of ACC, Mme. Hu Yinjiao, Executive Deputy Director-General of Publicity Department of Jingdezhen Municipal Party Committee, Mme. Fang Xiayun, Deputy Secretary-General of Jingdezhen Municipal Government, and Director of Jingdezhen Municipal Porcelain Bureau, and Mr. Feng Liang, Director-General of Information Office of Jingdezhen Municipal Government, attended the meeting.
In his briefing, Vice Mayor Liu said that Jingdezhen is a well-known ceramic capital of the world, where the art of ceramics is passed on from generation to generation. In 2014, UNESCO designated it as the “City of Crafts and Folk Arts”. As one of the starting points of the Ancient Maritime Silk Road, Jingdezhen has a long history of exchanges with Southeast Asian countries. In recent years, the bilateral trade and people-to-people exchanges has been particularly frequent. At present, many ceramic enthusiasts including those from ASEAN countries settle themselves down in the city to learn ceramic crafts and start businesses related to ceramics. Jingdezhen possesses special advantages to implement the Belt and Road Initiative, and would like to expand foreign exchanges with more openness, especially to enhance practical cooperation with ASEAN countries. He expected ASEAN journalists to help raise the profile of Jingdezhen. He welcomed ASEAN peoples to visit Jingdezhen for exchanges and cooperation so as to join efforts to move forward the world ceramic culture.
ASEAN journalists raised questions about the development planning and prospects of Jingdezhen, Jingdezhen’s achievements in trade and business with ASEAN countries, Jingdezhen’s concrete measures in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative to the leaders of Jingdezhen. The interaction was in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
The Chinese journalists of Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, China Central Television, China Daily, Jiangxi Daily, and local media of Jiangxi province and Jingdezhen City also joined the said event.